Stretchable diaphragm



Dec. 11, 1951 c. P. KRUPP ET AL 2,578,140

STRETCHABLE DIAPHRAGM Filed Sept. 12, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1% T012 5 E2550]! P-KRHPP J iffy- Dec. 11, 1951 Filed Sept. 12, 1946 c. P. KRUPP ETAL STRETCHABLE DIAPHRAGM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jun/(Tuba; DEERE P-KauF .Faan/f fi-fiszbea Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED" STATE-S PATENT OFFICE Gerber, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of N ew" York Application September 12, 1946, Serial No. 696,532

8 Claims: 1

This invention relates to stretchable walls or diaphragms and especially to walls'for" enclosing the spaces between articulated members or streamlined trains or the like. The'invention in some of its aspects is usefulalso in other structures, as for" example, joints in ducts and other fluid; passages.

(Dbjects' of the invention are toprovide an effective seal against weather, smoke and dust; to provide a smooth surface between connected members; to maintain the-smooth surface whileaccommodating movement of connected members; to provide for such accommodation by stretchabilityof the wall; toprovide reinforcement" to resist excessive stretching of the wall, to provide: for retaining firmness of: the struc'-' ture; to. provide durability: and" long wear; to provide for ease of. attachment and: detachment and. to provide for convenience of construction and installation.

These and further objects will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view; of a train including; a connecting diaphragm constructed in accordance-with: an" embodying the invention.-

Fig; 2-is:anend View of the diaphragm wall construction. I

Fig. 31is-a section ofthe wallconstruction taken alongfline 3-3 -in zFig.2, mounting. brackets being included.

Fig; 4 is; a. view. onan enlarged scale of a por tion of. Fig; 3..

Fig; 5=is a sectional'vi'ewof an innerwallmember prior to mounting, parts-being broken away.

Fig.- 5a is asectional-view of an outer wallmember prior to mounting, parts being broken-v Fig 9.is -a still further. modified: construction adapted l to connectconduit sections.-

Fig; "is asectiontaken along.- the-line I Il -I'll? in Fig. 9. a

The-stretchable sealing. diaphragm structure constructed in v accordance with the. invention may beused to-connect articulated members lfifi and. ll of a railroad traimas. shown' in Fig. 1.

The structure comprises stretchable walls 12,.

which extend over the top and sides of the train members It and l I to enclose space between such Walls, and over the top and sides of the passageway between the train members, and which are attached thereto by suitable fasteners, such as angles l3, bolts l4 and battens l5;

Each Wall [2 comprises an elastic facingsheet member IQ of highly stretchable material, preferably of resilient rubber or other rubber-like material, but this may be of stretchable tricotfabric or stretchable bandage 010th of cotton, rayon, nylon or other suitable material suitably rubberized. The sheet member I6 may be colored to match the color of the train to" enhan'oeth'eap pearance of the train. A" sheet backing member ll of stretchable fabric; preferably comprising plies'of fabric embedded in resilient material such as rubber. or rubber-like material overlies the first-mentioned sheet" member 16, and is athered-to form folds or corrugations extending in the't'ransverse direction of 'the'train, inwhich direction occurs the'least' extent of thearticulated movement. The corrugations are disposed at the inner side" of the outer Wall and at the outer side of the inner wall to present a smooth" surface at the outside of the train and a smooth surface facingthe passageway between the members of the train. The sheets liand [Tare adhered one to the other at spaced apart positions between the corrugations, preferably by a bond resulting from vulcanization of the rubberized assembly.

Apertures IQ for receiving the bolts [4 areprovided in the member I? at spaced-apart positions along the edges of the wall [2 transverse of the direction of the train. Reinforcing" strips 18 or' beads of wire or the'like are interposed between the edges of the walls and the apertures l9 and embedded in the sheet member IT.

other suitable material, preferably having voids therein for giving the Wall assembly a desirablev amount of stiiiness and for maintaining the shape of the assembly while atth'e'same time permittinga highdegree of stretchabilityi To facilitate the operation of couplingand' decoupling the' articulated members it and It of the train andofmounting and" demountihg' the diaphragm slide fasteners 2? with" self-sealing closures 23, such as those shown and described" in the patent of Carroll P. Krupp No. 2,385,816,

issued October 2, 1945, are incorporated in the wall assembly parallel to and in the proximity of an edge of each wall.

Rubber-coated fabric margins 24 of the slide fasteners are mounted between the sheet members l6 and ll of the joined portions of the walls l2 and bonded thereto in a suitable manner, preferably by vulcanization. The slide fastener elements 25 and 26 are secured desirably at the opposing edges of the margins 24 and runners or slide mechanisms are provided for bringing the elements 25 and 26 together. Sealing elements 21 and 28 are secured to the margins 24 by a vulcanized bond and are disposed so as to overlap when the fasteners 22 are closed and to provide a seal by lip-action of the edges of elements 2? and 28, one against the other. It is preferable that the sealinglements 2'1 and 2'! of each wall be mounted on the face which is exposed to the greatest pressure to obtain maximum sealing action. Thus, the sealing elements are mounted on the inner diaphragm at the side thereof having the corrugations as shown in Fig. and are mounted on the outer diaphragm at the smooth face thereof opposite the corrugations as shown in Fig. 5a.

The wall assemblies l2 are installed between the articulated members It and H of the train, preferably under tension, in the direction longitudinally of the train so that each sheet member l6 provides a smooth surface at substantially all positions of the articulated members, it and H. To install each wall assembly l2 the slide fastener is opened, and the two portions of the wall are mounted on the articulated members ill and H by means of the fastenings l3, l4 and 15. Then when the portions of the wall are securely fastened to their proper, respective locations. tension is applied to the portion at the starting end of the fastener 22 to bring the two portions of the fastener together and thus permit their being joined under tension by the slide mechanism. Along the entire remaining length of the wall its two portions may be drawn together and placed under tension by simply moving the slide mechanism along the slide fastener to its other end. When disconnecting the articulated members of the train, the wall portions may be parted by moving the slide mechanism from one end of the fastener 22 to the other end, thereby disengaging the fastener elements 25 and 26.

When the train travels around a curve, the articulated members is and H move relative to each other, and the sections of the wall assemblies l2 facing the outside of the curve will be elongated and the elastic sheet members H5 will be stretched in tension and the stretchable fabric members ll will be urged toward the elastic members 16, causing the cores 2! to be compressed in the manner shown in Fig. 6. After a substantial elongation of the walls 52 has taken place, the stretchable sheet backing members ll' will be straightened and tensioned and will limit the elongation of the wall assembly.

During elongation of the wall, the elastic member I6 will present a substantially smooth surface which is desirable at the outside of the streamlined train and around the passageway between the articulated members of the train.

Modifications wherein the cores are of different material and shapes are shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. In some cases it is desirable to have the voids formed by the corrugations of the sheet members unoccupied, and in other cases it may be desirable only to partly fill the voids with sponge rubber, for example, as in Fig. '7, wherein annular apertures extend longitudinally of the core 29. In Fig. 8 an extruded body of flexible material, such as rubber or rubber-like material 3i, is used, which may be of the shape shown in Fig. 8 or of any other desired shape for accommodating elongation of the Wall member with a substantially small distortion of the surface of the elastic member [6.

A modification of a wall built in accordance with and embodying the invention and adapted for connecting fluid-conducting passages is shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The wall assembly I2 is interposed between fluid-conducting passages, such as conduit sections 32, and 33. The edge portions of the stretchable fabric member ll of the wall l2 overlap the edges of the conduit sections and wrap around the sections fcrming a tubular body. The elastic member It is disposed within the stretchable fabric member I? and may abut the edges of the conduit sections forming a continuous inner wall surface from one conduit section to the other. The corrugations are disposed transverse of the axis of the conduit sections and form annular spaces between the sheet members IB and H in which cores 2| of porous compressible material such as sponge rubber are enclosed. The overlapping portion of the wall assembly [2 may be mounted on the sections of conduits 32 and 33 by annular strap members 34 or by other suitable mounting means.

In operation, when the conduit section 33 is moved relatively away from the conduit section 3 the wall members is and H will react as described for elongation of the flat sheet hereinabove, and the wall assembly l2 will assume a shape as shown in dot and dash line in Fig. 9. The elastic sheet member It will present a substantially smooth inner surface during elongation.

Variations may be made with-out departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

We claim:

-1.A stretchable diaphragm having attaching edges at opposite ends for connecting articulated railroad members, said diaphragm comprising a sheet elastic member, a backing member secured to said elastic member at a plurality of positions spaced from the edges of the diaphragm in a direction longitudinally of the railroad members, said backing member being corrugated with corrugations extending continuously transversely of the railroad members throughout the extent of said backing member in a manner such that said elastic member is extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing member is effected, and bodies of resilient material having voids therein disposed in spaces formed by said corrugations between said elastic member and said backing member throughout the length of the corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and consequent flattening of said corrugations by distortion of said resilient material and also by virtue of the compressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by said voids in said resilient material.

2. A stretchable tubular diaphragm having at taching edges at the ends for connecting fluidconducting passages, said diaphragm comprising a tubular inner sheet elastic member and a backing member having a sinuous configuration and disposed along said elastic member at spacedapart positions spaced from the edges of said diaphragm longitudinally of theaxis of the diaphragm in a manner such that'said elastic.mem-.- ber isextensively stretchable before full exten- SliQ i of; can backing member is effected when thediaphragm is elongated in the; axial direction.

'3 A stretchable diaphragm, having attaching edges at opposite ends for connecting articulated rail members, said diaphragm comprising a sheet elastic membena backing member secured to said elastic. member at aplurality of positions spaced from the edges of the diaphragmiin a, dirction longitudinally of the railroad members,

backing'member being corrugated with corrugations. extending continuously transyersely of the railroad members throughout the extent of said backing member in a manner such that said elastic member is extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing member is effected, and tubular bodies of resilient material disposed in spaces formed by said corrugations between said elastic member and said backing member throughout the length of the corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and consequent flattening of said corrugations by distortion of said resilient material and also by virtue of the compressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by the hollow center of said tubular bodies of resilient material.

4. A stretchable tubular diaphragm having attaching edges at the ends for connecting fluid conducting passages, said diaphragm comprising a tubular inner sheet elastic member and a backing member secured to said elastic member at a plurality of positions spaced from the edges, said backing member being corrugated with corrugations extending continuously circumferentially about the diaphragm in a manner such that said eiastic member is extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing member is effected, and bodies of resilient material having voids therein disposed in said corrugations between said elastic member and said backing member throughout the length of the corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and consequent flattening of said corrugations by distortion of said resilient material and also by virtoe of the compressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by said voids in said resilient material.

5. A stretchable diaphragm having attaching edges at opposite ends thereof, said diaphragm comprising a sheet elastic member, a backing member secured to said elastic member at a plurality of positions spaced from the edges in the direction of stretch of the diaphragm, said backing member being corrugated with corrugations extending continuously transversely of the direction of stretch and throughout the extent of the diaphragm in a manner such that said elastic member is extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing member is effected, and bodies of resilient material having voids therein disposed in said corrugations between said elastic member and said backing member throughout the length of the corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and conseuent flattening of said corrugations by distortion or said resilient material and also by virtue of the compressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by said voids in said bodies of resilient material.

6. A stretchable diaphragm having attaching edges at opposite ends thereof, said diaphragm comprising a sheet elastic member, a backing member secured to said elastic member at a plura-li-ty of positions spaced; from. the edgesin the direction of stretch of the diaphragm,said backing member being corrugated with. corrugations extending: continuously transversely of the direction of stretch and-throughout the extent of the diaphragm in a; manner such that said elastic memberis extensively stretchable before full extension, of said backing member is effected, and tubular bodies of resilient material disposed in said confugations,v between said elastic member and; said backing member throughout the length of the corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and consequent flattening of said corrugations by distortion of said resilient material and also by virtue of thecompressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by said voids in said bodies of resilient material.

'7. A stretchable sealing diaphragm having attaching edges at opposite ends for connecting relatively movable structures, said diaphragm comprising a sheet elastic member continuous throughout the extent of said elastic member, a sheet backing member having a sinuous configuration and being disposed along said elastic member and secured to said elastic member at a plurality of positions spaced from the edges in the direction of stretch of the diaphragm in a manner such that said elastic member is extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing member is eifected, means for mounting said diaphragm between said relatively movable structures and a slide-fastener structure at adjoining margins of adjacent portions of said diaphragm and including cooperating spaced-apart slide-fastener elements and a runner for detachably uniting the same, a pair of flexible closing elements positionable in overlapping relation with one another upon the uniting of said fastener elements, and one of said closing elements having a resilient marginal portion tapering to an edge for sealing by lip-action of said edge in contact with the other of said elements.

8. A stretchable sealing diaphragm structure having attaching edges at opposite ends for connecting articulated railroad members, said structure comprising a pair of walls spaced-apart transversely of the railroad members and comprising outer sheet elastic members continuous throughout the extent of said elastic members, inner backing members secured to said elastic members at a plurality of positions spaced from the edges of the diaphragm in a direction longitudinally of the railroad members, said backing members being corrugated with corrugations extending continuously transversely of the railroad members throughout the extent of the backing members, said corrugations facing the other of said walls and providing extensibility of said walls in a manner such that said elastic members are extensively stretchable before full extension of said backing members, and bodies of resilient material having voids therein disposed in said corrugations between each said elastic member and its backing member throughout the length of said corrugations, said bodies accommodating the stretching action and consequent flattening of said corrugations by distortion of said resilient material and also by virtue of the compressibility of said bodies in total volume as permitted by said voids in said bodies of resilient material, slide-fastener means at adjoining margins of adjacent portions of said structure including cooperating slide-fastener elements and runners for detachably uniting the same, pairs of clos- 7 ing elements positionable in overlapping relation with one another upon closure of said fastener elements, one of each pair of closing elements having a resilient marginal portion tapering to an edge for sealing by lip-action of said edge in contact with the other of said elements, and means for attaching said walls in their spaced-apart relationship to the ends of the railroad members.

CARROLL P. KRUPP.

FRANK G. GERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gaussen Mar. 22, 1881 Adams Jan. 17, 1893 Bowers Apr. 18, 1916 Scheuer June 13, 1916 Rockwood Nov. 16, 1926 Thompson et a1. Sept. 27, 1938 Minor Nov. 14, 1939 Christianson June 23, 1942 Cunnington Feb. 15, 1944 Nystrom et a1 July 18, 1944 Krupp Oct. 2, 1945 Scogland Aug. 19, 1947 

